Synergies and Trade-Offs in Climate-Smart Agriculture: An Approach to Systematic Assessment

By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

This publication analyses of the synergies and trade-offs that can occur within climate-smart agriculture (CSA), more specifically between its three pillars: (i) sustainably increasing productivity and incomes in agriculture, (ii) building resilience of and adapting food and agriculture systems to climate change, (iii) reducing/removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible. The aim of this analysis is to develop a systematic characterization of possible synergies and trade-offs in CSA, as well as provide a tool to guide CSA practitioners through the assessment of synergies and trade-offs during the design and planning of CSA strategies or interventions. The ultimate objective is to support strategic decisions that enhance synergies and reduce trade-offs to achieve better results for investments in CSA.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Release date: Aug 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9789251347928

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

An intergovernmental organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Its employees come from various cultural backgrounds and are experts in the multiple fields of activity FAO engages in. FAO’s staff capacity allows it to support improved governance inter alia, generate, develop and adapt existing tools and guidelines and provide targeted governance support as a resource to country and regional level FAO offices. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, FAO is present in over 130 countries.Founded in 1945, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO provides a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. The Organization publishes authoritative publications on agriculture, fisheries, forestry and nutrition.

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FAO. 2021. Synergies and trade-offs in climate-smart agriculture – An approach to systematic assessment. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5243en

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Acknowledgements

Acronyms and abbreviations

Executive summary

1Introduction

2Characterization of synergies and trade-offs in CSA

2.1 Approach

2.2 CSA synergy and trade-off screening

3Methodologies and tools

4Discussion and conclusion

References

A1 Annex 1: Characterization sheets of relationships between CSA objectives

A1.1 Synergies and trade-offs between